Buck for pressing machines

ABSTRACT

The invention provides a lower member or buck of a garment pressing machine which is so constructed that adequate space is provided for turning of a jacket or coat whose shoulders and parts about the armholes are being pressed, the buck being cantilevered on a curved or angularly shaped post which is constructed of heavy steel plate and is hollow, the post housing the stem supply and its return, as well as including a passage for cooling air leading from the perforated top plate of the buck to a connection to a vacuum pump. The upper member of the buck is constructed to provide a space for the entry of heating steam from within the post and also a connection between the space immediately below the perforated top plate and the air passage in the post, re-enforcements being provided to enable the top member to withstand the shock and pressure of the usual head of the pressing machine. In the preferred construction, the post is of approximately triangular cross section and tapered upwardly, a tubular steam and condensate return forming a vertex of the triangle.

United States Patent lnventor Sam Goldstein New York, Appl. No. 840,391Filed July 9, 1969 Patented July 13, 1971 Assignee Sam Goldstein. lnc.

BUCK FOR PRESSING MACHINES 4 Claims, 3 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 38/ 17 Int. Cl D06f 71/00, D061"? l/34 Field of Search 38/16, 17,66, 99,101;223/57;100/214, 217, 233, 234; 156/580, 583

References Cited UNIT ED STATES PATENTS 7,814 3/1931 38/16 9,033 3/193238/16 2,499 1/1932 38/16 5,821 6/1933 38/16 2,389 9/1962 223/57 3,3665/1964 Kienzle 38/17 3,310,895 3/1967 Weingarten ABSTRACT: The inventionprovides a lower member or buck of a garment pressing machine which isso constructed that adequate space is provided for turning of a jacketor coat whose shoulders and parts about the armholes are being pressed,the buck being cantilevered on a curved or angularly shaped post whichis constructed of heavy steel plate and is hollow, the post housing thestem supply and its return, as well as including a passage for coolingair leading from the perforated top plate of the buck to a connection toa vacuum pump. The upper member of the buck is constructed to pro vide aspace for the entry of heating steam from within the post and also aconnection between the space immediately below the perforated top plateand the air passage in the post, re-enforcements being provided toenable the top member to withstand the shock and pressure of the usualhead of the pressing machine. In the preferred construction, the post isof approximately triangular cross section and tapered upwardly, atubular steam and condensate return forming a vertex of the triangle.

35 27 26 55 %4 3? 20 9 amp 11171 y/l'V/l'Y/lf/lmr/llllb m I H E ?/32c l'21" H I5 50 23 BUCK FOR PRESSING MACHINES The present invention relatesto the lower member or buck of a garment-pressing machine, moreparticularly of a machine for pressing the shoulders and parts about thearmholes of jackets and coats, known also as an armhole creaser.

It is an object of the invention to provide a buck which is supported incantilever fashion at approximately an end thereof by a curved or benthollow post, whereby adequate unobstructed free space is provided belowthe buck for turning a jacket or coat whose shoulders and parts aboutthe armholes are being pressed, while at the same time providing in itshollow interior adequate space for the supply and return of heatingsteam for the buck, and also for a vacuum connection to the spaceimmediately below the perforated top plate of the buck for drawingcooling and drying air through the pressed garment parts.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a buck whose top memberis supported in cantilever fashion on a curved or bent and preferablytapered hollow post which is welded to steel beam reinforcing andpartitioning structure within such top member and having separatemutually sealed sections thereof debouching into the steam and vacuumchambers of the top member.

It is a further object of the invention so to construct and arrange thesupporting post of the buck that it is secured to the base over an areaextending rearwardly of the vertical projection of the buck on the base,so that there is available a free unobstructed space below the topmember of the buck for substantially the whole length thereof, wherebythe gathering and turning of the parts of the gannent not being pressedat any moment can take place with facility and expedition.

Another object of the invention is to provide a compact supporting postwhich at the same time provides the passageways for the heating steamand for the return steam and condensate, and also for the cooling anddrying air, the post being constituted principally of a tube to whichopposite walls of the post are welded, the walls being joined at theirother ends by a transverse plate to enclose the suction space which isconnected to the suction pump of the complete apparatus.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a compactsupply post which is of approximately triangular form with the steamsupply and condensate return embodied in a tube which forms a forwardlydirected vertex of the triangular structure, whereby the remainingcross-sectional area of flow can be allotted to the vacuum or suctionspace for drawing cooling air through the heated garment on the buck.

Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent tothose skilled in the art from the following more detailed descriptionthereof, taken together with the accom panying drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of my improved buck and its supportingstructure, the same being partly in section to reveal the internalconstruction;

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the top member of the buck with the perforatedtop plate removed; while H6. 3 is a section along the line 3-3 of FIG.1.

Referring to the drawing, there is shown at the steel base of myimproved buck which is connected to a hollow angular (by which term, Iinclude also curved) post 11, preferably by welding, as indicated as 12.The upper end of the post is connected, preferably also by welding, asindicated at 13, to the steel bottom plate 14 of the top member 15 ofthe buck, and also internally of such member, as will be describedhereinafter.

The post is formed of heavy steel plates, of the order of thickness ofthree-eighths inch, welded together, and encloses a sealed space whichcontains a steel pipe 16 for steam condensate return, and within whichis disposed, in spaced relation, a steam supply pipe 17, which ispreferably of brass.

Between the pipe 16 and the closed rear wall lie of the post is a space18 which is connected to a vacuum pump, as will be explained more fullyhereinafter.

In the illustrated preferred form of my invention, the steel pipe 16forms the forwardly directed vertex of the approximately triangularoutline of the horizontal cross section of the post, as shown in FIG. 3.To the pipe there are welded the sidewalls Ma and 11b of the post whichflare outwardly from the pipe (FIG. 3), the other ends of the wallsbeing sealed by the end wall which is welded thereto, as indicated at11d.

The top member 15 of the buck includes, in addition to the bottom plate14, also atop plate 19 spaced therefrom and perforated, as indicated at20, in the usual manner for the entry of cooling air after a pressingoperation has been completed. The top and bottom plates are united by aperipheral steel band which is welded to the plates, the band beingindicated at 21 and the welds at 210. The buck is secured to the frameof the pressing machine in known manner by bolts passing through boltholes in the base 10, one of which is indicated at 22.

Welded or otherwise secured to the bottom plate 14, in airand steamtightfashion, are two horizontally spaced reinforcing steel beams 23 and 24which forward unsupported end 15a of the top member, and preferably alsoto the opposite rearward end 151:. Partition walls 25 and 26 between thebeams enclose a vacuum chamber 27, while the wall 26 also bounds a steamchamber 28. A steam inlet port 29 passes through the bottom platebetween the beams, and the beams are provided each with one or morepassageways 30 for steam to pass to the other sides of the beams and forthe return of condensate. As shown in FIG. 1 at 13 and 31, the steam andcondensate return pipe 16 is welded to plate 14 about port 29.

The interior space of the top member is divided by a horizontalpartition 32 into a steam space 33 and a vacuum space 34. I prefer tomake the top surface of the horizontal partition between the steam andvacuum spaces flush with the top surfaces of the beams; and tofacilitate welding of the partition to the beams by affording moreconvenient access to the joints, it is desirable to make the partitionoffour parts, namely, the part 32 which overlies the steam space 33, andthe parts 32a, 32b and 32: which are welded to the band 21. Thepartition may, however, be made of one piece and overlie the beams, andbe connected thereto by screws or the like, metal or other gaskets beingemployed to insure tightness. In any case, an opening 36 is provided inthe partition to afford communication between the vacuum spaces 18 and34.

The steamsupply tube 17 housed within the post terminates at the bend 35of the post, the steam travelling through the upper portion of pipe 16which leads into the space 33. The steam and condensate return to theboiler through the upper portion of pipe 16 and the annular spacebetween pipe 16 and tube 17, and are withdrawn through a suitablefitting.

The partition 32 or its several parts may rest on and be welded to thebeams 23 and 24 and also on spacer blocks 37 (before the band 21 isapplied), and in turn supports spacer blocks 38 which support the topplate 19. It is provided with an opening registering with the vacuumchamber 27 and leading into vacuum space 34. The wall members Ila, 11band 110 of the post are welded to the bottom plate 14 and also to thewalls 25 and 26, thereby providing a strong and rigid support for thebuck top member 15.

The post with its pipe 16 and tube 17 pass through a suitable opening inthe base 10, the vacuum space 18 communicating with a vacuum chamber 39from which a pipe 40 leads to the vacuum pump (not shown) associatedwith the pressing machine. The pipe 16 and tube 17 pass through thebottom wall of chamber 39 and are connected by a suitable twopassagewayfitting (not shown) with the boiler.

The buck may be about 8 /4 to 8% inches long, and (at its edges) isabout 1% to 1% inches thick. The steel beams absorb the shock when thehead of the pressing machine is dropped on the buck and'are preferablyof solid steel about one-half inch high.

The steam supply tube may have an internal diameter of aboutfive-sixteenths inch and an outside diameter of about three-eighthsinch. The return pipe has an ID. of one-half inch and is preferably ofstainless steel.

It will be noted that the post is curved or bent to such a degree towardthe opposite end of the buck that the inner or front surface of the bendis substantially vertically below the vicinal rearward outer edge of thetop member of the buck, the post being secured to the base over an areawhich extends beyond, i.e. rearwardly, of the vertical projection of thebuck on the base. The post may extend about 2% inches rear wardly of theregion of connection of pipe 116 with bottom plate 14, so that adequatespace is provided below the top member, and without obstruction by thepost, for the gathering and turning of the garment being pressed. Thearrangement of the post at one end of the top member 115, and theforward bend in the post, make it possible conveniently to shift thegarment from one pressing position to another without removing it fromthe top plate. The main portion of the coat or jacket lies away from thetop plate, and the fabric on the inside of the garment about the armholes can thus e pressed, after the lining has been sewed on, withoutinterference from bunching of the garment below the top member.

With my improved buck, the operator can press the left and right sleevesin succession and does not have to remove the garment from the buckafter pressing the material about the armhole of one sleeve in order toposition it for operating on the armhole fabric of the other sleeve.

It will be seen from the foregoing that l have provided a cantileveredbuck which is composed of strong steel plates and beams which arethemselves reinforced and rendered more rigid by the partition walls.The steam has free access for contact with the partition walls and thespacer blocks and also with the vertical band 21, so that heat israpidly conveyed to the top plate and thence, through the usuallyemployed metal wire screen and padding (not shown), to the garment beingpressed. Because the vacuum space extends over the whole area of theunderside of the top plate, the garment is rapidly cooled and dried atthe end of the pressing operation when the steam supply is cut off andthe buck connected with the vacuum line after the head ofthe machine hasbeen lifted.

While I have indicated that various parts are welded to each other, itwill be evident that a number of parts can be produced in the form ofintegral steel castings. However, I have found that a buck built up ofwelded cold-rolled steel plate and beams has adequate strength to resistthe shocks to which the buck is subjected in use.

The post is heat insulated in known manner with an asbestos coveringwhich is secured to the post by a suitable cement, such as a silicateglue; being known, the covering has not been illustrated on the drawing.

As shown in FIG. 1, the post may taper from its base to the bend thereinand may taper also at its upper part to a horizontal dimension which issomewhat smaller than at the bend.

I claim:

1. A pressing machine buck comprising a base, a hollow top member havinga perforated top plate, and a hollow post connected to the base and tothe top member adjacent to an end of said member, said top member beingcantilevered on said post, said post containing separate passageways forthe supply of steam, for the return of steam and condensate, and for thesuction-induced flow of cooling air, said buck having thereinhorizontally spaced partitioning beams extending longitudinally of thetop member to the forward end thereof, an intermediate wall connected tosaid beams, the bottom wall of said member having a port opening intothe space encompassed by said beams and intermediate wall, the steam andcondensate return comprising a pipe debouching into such port, ahorizontal partition wall sealed to the beams and to the intermediatewall at a distance from the bottom to provide a steam chamber, ports inthe beams for the passage of steam and of condensate, and spacer blocksseperating the said horizontal artition wallfrom the perforated togplate and supporting the atter to provide a vacuum space wit which thevacuum space in the post communicates.

2. A buck according to claim ll, wherein the post is constituted of thepipe providing the steam and condensate return passage, sidewalls sealedto and extending rearwardly from the pipe, and a transverse wallconnecting the other ends of said sidewalls, said sidewalls divergingrearwardly, so that the horizontal cross section of the post is ofapproximately triangular shape, with the said pipe forming the forwardlydirected vertex of the triangle.

3. A buck according to claim 2, wherein the post is bent forwardlyintermediate its ends to such a degree that the post is secured to thebase over an area extending rearwardly of the vertical projection of thebuck on the base.

4. A pressing machine buck comprising a base, a hollow top member havinga perforated top plate, and a hollow post connected to the base and tothe top member adjacent to an end of said member, said top member beingcantilevered on said post, said post containing separate passageways forthe supply of steam, for the return of steam and condensate, and for thesuction-induced flow of cooling air, the interior of the top memberbeing provided with spaced steel beams extending from approximately thejuncture of the post with said member to the opposite end of saidmember, a transverse wall connecting the beams at the said juncture, anda second transverse wall joining the beams at a distance from the firsttransverse wall, whereby the space between is divided into two chambers,the steam pipe debouching into one of said chambers and the vacuum spaceof the post communicating with the other chamber and with the spaceimmediately beneath the perforated top plate, and means for sealing saidchambers from each other.

1. A pressing machine buck comprising a base, a hollow top member havinga perforated top plate, and a hollow post connected to the base and tothe top member adjacent to an end of said member, said top member beingcantilevered on said post, said post containing separate passageways forthe supply of steam, for the return of steam and condensate, and for thesuction-induced flow of cooling air, said buck having thereinhorizontally spaced partitioning beams extending longitudinally of thetop member to the forward end thereof, an intermediate wall connected tosaid beams, the bottom wall of said member having a port opening intothe space encompassed by said beams and intermediate wall, the steam andcondensate return comprising a pipe debouching into such port, ahorizontal partition wall sealed to the beams and to the intermediatewall at a distance from the bottom to provide a steam chamber, ports inthe beams for the passage of steam and of condensate, and spacer blocksseperating the said horizontal partition wall from the perforated topplate and supporting the latter to provide a vacuum space with which thevacuum space in the post communicates.
 2. A buck according to claim 1,wherein the post is constituted of the pipe providing the steam andcondensate return passage, sidewalls sealed to and extending rearwardlyfrom the pipe, and a transverse wall connecting the other ends of saidsidewalls, said sidewalls diverging rearwardly, so that the horizontalcross section of the post is of approximately triangular shape, with thesaid pipe forming the forwardly directed vertex of the triangle.
 3. Abuck according to claim 2, wherein the post is bent forwardlyintermediate its ends to such a degree that the post is secured to thebase over an area extending rearwardly of the vertical projection of thebuck on the base.
 4. A pressing machine buck comprising a base, a hollowtop member having a perforated top plate, and a hollow post connected tothe base and to the top member adjacent to an end of said member, saidtop member being cantilevered on said post, said post containingseparate passageways for the supply of steam, for the return of steamand condensate, and for the suction-induced flow of cooling air, theinterior of the top member being provided with spaced steel beamsextending from approximately the juncture of the post with said memberto the opposite end of said member, a transverse wall connecting thebeams at the said juncture, and a second transverse wall joining thebeams at a distance from the first transverse wall, whereby the spacebetween is divided into two chambers, the steam pipe debouching into oneof said chambers and the vacuum space of the post communicating with theother chamber and with the space immediately beneath the perforated topplate, and means for sealing said chambers from each other.